New CareConnect trial for Grantham

A new CallConnect minibus service is being launched in Grantham to help adult social care users get to day centres, or take part in other health or social activities, to meet their care needs.

The CareConnect trial is starting this month and will last for six months. Everyone who is eligible for adult social care is being given a 'personal budget', in line with the national move, so they can choose services to meet their own care needs. People requiring transport will have the option of using this new CareConnect service if they wish.

Transport Manager, Anita Ruffle, said: "We're going to see how popular the trial proves to be. This is all about giving people more choice about how they get around the town. As adult social care users are given personal budgets they can decide for themselves how they want to use it.

"This new 'CareConnect' service gives users a way of getting from A to B at specific times of the day. The trial will also enhance the existing CallConnect service in Grantham, because anyone can book it outside of these times."

The nationally-acclaimed CallConnect service - that allows people to book a journey, keeping them connected to existing public transport services - now has 28 bus services covering the county, and parts of neighbouring counties, carrying more than 250,000 passengers a year.

For more details about CallConnect and CareConnect, contact the CallConnect team on 0845 234 3344; visit www.lincsinterconnect.com; or text CallConnect to 82727.

CallConnect operates between 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and 8am-6pm on Saturdays. The additional CareConnect vehicle will operate between 8am-6pm Monday-Friday.